Child Home Safety

Written by Jeremy Horelick

Many parents exercise the utmost caution when taking their babies out in public. They take great pains to properly strap them into car seats, hold their hands or clutch them close to their chests in crowded malls and shopping centers, and develop unique systems including code words and signs for ensuring that strangers don't carry youngsters off. Unfortunately, a great many parents don't take quite as much care in "baby-proofing" their homes, which is where the majority of accidents occur.

While it's impossible to completely baby-proof every nook and corner of any home, there are basic steps parents can follow to ensure their children's safety. Child gates at the tops of stairs are a must, as are pool fences. Young children, however, have a keen nose of mischief and can stumble upon hazards you never even knew existed, which is where child home safety systems can help.

The Contents

Just as every house or apartment is unique, so too are the safety systems parents develop. Some may feel content with nothing more than a child monitor or walkie-talkie network that allows them to listen in on their children in any room of the house. Other parents go so far as to buy child transmitters that are worn around the wrist or neck and send off continuous signals so long as the child remains within a specified range. These are also particularly useful in public places where kids can easily wander off.

The transmitter-receiver system is great for youngsters, as they often don't even realize they're being tracked. That's because the transmitters are typically housed inside kid-friendly devices such as plastic cartoon ornaments that children love to wear. Best of all, you can modify the settings on your system as your child gains confidence and your fears gradually subside. Change the radius from five feet to 10 feet, 10 feet to 20 feet, or to whatever range makes you feel most comfortable.